With 19 games left, fans attention is shifting (even more!) to the NBA Draft Lottery, the Draft itself, then the opening of free agency, etc. It’s the Et Cetera we focus on in compiling Deadlines and Commitment our occasional but pretty much monthly calendar for the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty.
So, take it from us. the off-season process includes more than just big events like the Lottery and Draft. There a number of draft combines from Portsmouth to Chicago to Venice where a large contingent of Nets front office types will be present. HSS Training Center will be flooded with draft prospects.
—March 10: LeBron James and Luka Doncic were supposed to make their only appearance at Barclays Center this season but LBJ. Luka was supposed to be here with the Mavericks on March 31, but you know. A chance for D’Angelo Russell (and Maxwell Lewis) to shine and Dorian Finney-Smith to get his tribute video.
—March 13 - 14: Third two-game visit of Long Island’s “Les Nets” to suburban Montreal. So far, so good. The G League Nets drew an average of better than 6,600 fans to the first four games in Quebec.
—March 28: The Los Angeles Clippers come to Brooklyn with James Harden and Ben Simmons. Tribute video for Ben: Lotsa sweaters?
—March 31: The Mavericks will arrive in Brooklyn. Kyrie Irving is out for the season with a torn ACL, part of Dallas’ stunning collapse since the trade of Luka Doncic. Jason Kidd will get his first live look at the Vince Carter jersey hanging next to his in the rafters at Barclays Center.
—April 1: G League Playoffs begin. Not looking good for Long Island.
—April 1: McDonald’s All-American Game at Barclays Center. The Nets have a lot of picks going forward. Good way to get an early look and Ellie the Elephant will team up with Grimace for the game.
—April 5: The 2025 Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame class is announced during the NCAA Final Four. New Jersey Nets great Buck Williams is among the Finalists.
—April 13: NBA Regular Season ends. All 30 teams to play. Nets close out season vs. Knicks at Barclays Center. With the NBA season and March Madness over, the Nets will starting working out prospects, dozens of them.
—April 14 - WNBA Draft. New York has seventh pick in the first round unless they trade it and it has reportedly been on the block.
—April 15-18: NBA Play-In Tournament. Will the Nets make it? Doubt it.
—April 16-19: Portsmouth Invitational Tournament in Portsmouth VA. The first of the post-season draft combines, this one for college seniors. All 30 teams will be there.
—April 19: NBA Playoffs begin.
—April 23: Draft position ties broken by virtual coin toss. With three late first rounders bunched up, it seems possible, even likely, that the Nets will wind up in the mix. Lottery is different.
—April 29: WNBA Training Camp begins. Good time to announce status of New York Liberty training facility. The team currently trains on court just to the right of the main entrance of Barclays Center.
—May 9-11: G League Combine in Chicago. NBA teams as well as G League teams will be on hand.
—May 11-18: NBA Draft Combine in Chicago. More draft workouts, more scouts in Chicago for all the measurements and scrimmages ... and player interviews.
—May 12: NBA Draft Lottery in Chicago. Where will the Nets pick? Stock up on the Zanax ... or the champagne.
—May 17: New York Liberty open defense of their WNBA title. Banner raising at Barclays Center!
—May 31-June 2: Adidas Eurocamp in Treviso, Italy. The NBA’s international draft combine.
—June 5:NBA Finals 2025 begin. All games will be televised on ABC.
—June 25-26: NBA Draft. Who will the Nets pick? At the moment, the Nets have four first rounders and a second rounder, most in the league. More than the February trade deadline, the Draft is Sean Marks is more active period, having made a move, some big, some small, within 48 hours of the draft in seven of his nine years as GM.
—June 29: Jalen Wilson, Keon Johnson, Tyrese Martin and Maxwell Lewis have team options for 2025-26, Qualifying Offers must be extended to Cam Thomas, Day’Ron Sharpe and Ziaire Williams.
—June 30: NBA teams may begin negotiating with all other upcoming free agents (beginning at 6 p.m. ET). Applies to re-signings as well. Nets will have an estimated $50 million to $70 million in cap space, more than any other team by a long shot.
—July 6: Free agent signings and Draft Day trades become official. Cam Johnson can be extended.
—July 7: Nets $23.3 million trade exception from Mikal Bridges trade expires.
—July 10-20: NBA Summer League in Las Vegas With all those draft picks plus a number of young players from this year’s team, Brooklyn should be one of the most interesting squads.
—July 17–21: WNBA All-Star Break
—July 19: WNBA All-Star Game
—August TBA: NBA schedule for 2025-26 is released.
—September 28: Rough starting date for training camp and Media Day for those teams like the Nets who play overseas in preseason The Nets, of course, are playing in China.
—October 10: First of two NBA China Games vs. Phoenix Suns at the 14,000 capacity Venetian in Macao.
—October 12: Second of two NBA China Games. Same opponent, same venue